Thank you Dr. Robert Yannetti

Donna McMurray | The Union Times Dr. Robert Yannetti and his wife, Karen, stand on the field at Legends Stadium in Whitmire during the Oct. 13 pre-game ceremony honoring Yannetti for his many years of service to the Whitmire Community and its football team, the Wolverines. For more than 30 years Yannetti practiced medicine both in Whitimire and in Union, his practice including providing free physicals for the members of the Wolverines football team.

Donna McMurray | The Union Times Dr. Robert Yannetti (far left) stands with his family on the field at Legends Stadium in Whitmire during the Oct. 13 pre-game ceremony honoring Yannetti for his many years of service to the Whitmire Community and its football team, the Wolverines. Standing with Yannetti are his wife, Karen; their oldest daughter, Diana, and her children, Giana and Anthony; their youngest daughter, Julia, and her daughter, Olivia; and family friend Sandy Jeter.

WHITMIRE —A physician who has been a pillar of the health care systems of two communities was honored for his more than 30 years of service to one of those communities and its football team.

Dr. Robert Yannetti completed his residency in 1985 and began practicing medicine in Whitmire that year and, less than two years later, would also begin practicing medicine in Union as well. For the next three decades, Yannetti would serve both the Union and Whitmire communities becoming one of the most popular physicians in both communities gaining the trust, support and loyalty of those communities with his devotion to and his caring for his patients.

A strong supporter of the communities he served, Yannetti’s service to those communities included providing physicals for the members of the Whitmire High School Football Team. While he initially had to charge a small fee for some of the testing required, changes in the rules governing the physicals enabled Yannetti to provide them to young athletes for free and he continued providing this service until earlier this year.

Yannetti was forced to retire from the practice of medicine this year due to a brain tumor that was discovered after he suddenly collapsed. In an interview with The Union Times Friday afternoon, Yannetti said that his blood pressure had bottomed out and he lost consciousness. In addition, Yannetti said he developed pneumonia and that, together with the brain tumor, left him unable to continue his practice.

Even though he is no longer practicing medicine, Yannetti’s many years of service have not been forgotten.

On Friday, Oct. 13, the Whitmire Community High School Football Team was scheduled to take to the field at Legends Stadium, but before they did, the Whitmire Community honored Yannetti for his many years of service and contributions to the Whitmire Community High School Athletic Department during a pre-game ceremony. With his family at his side, Yannetti stood in a place of honor before those assembled and was presented with a plaque recognizing him for his service to the team and the community.

“It was nice,” Yannetti said Friday, “It was very special.”

Yannetti’s service to the team didn’t end with the physicals. He said that when his children were in school he would be at the games standing by to provide medical assistance if someone was injured.

Dr. Robert Yannetti has served not one, but two communities well over the past 32 years and the press release issued by Whitmire Community High School announcing its plans to honor him says it best.

“Thank you for your service Dr. Yannetti!”

Donna McMurray | The Union Times Dr. Robert Yannetti and his wife, Karen, stand on the field at Legends Stadium in Whitmire during the Oct. 13 pre-game ceremony honoring Yannetti for his many years of service to the Whitmire Community and its football team, the Wolverines. For more than 30 years Yannetti practiced medicine both in Whitimire and in Union, his practice including providing free physicals for the members of the Wolverines football team.

https://www.uniondailytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_Yanetti.jpgDonna McMurray | The Union Times Dr. Robert Yannetti and his wife, Karen, stand on the field at Legends Stadium in Whitmire during the Oct. 13 pre-game ceremony honoring Yannetti for his many years of service to the Whitmire Community and its football team, the Wolverines. For more than 30 years Yannetti practiced medicine both in Whitimire and in Union, his practice including providing free physicals for the members of the Wolverines football team.

Donna McMurray | The Union Times Dr. Robert Yannetti (far left) stands with his family on the field at Legends Stadium in Whitmire during the Oct. 13 pre-game ceremony honoring Yannetti for his many years of service to the Whitmire Community and its football team, the Wolverines. Standing with Yannetti are his wife, Karen; their oldest daughter, Diana, and her children, Giana and Anthony; their youngest daughter, Julia, and her daughter, Olivia; and family friend Sandy Jeter.

https://www.uniondailytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_Yanetti-2.jpgDonna McMurray | The Union Times Dr. Robert Yannetti (far left) stands with his family on the field at Legends Stadium in Whitmire during the Oct. 13 pre-game ceremony honoring Yannetti for his many years of service to the Whitmire Community and its football team, the Wolverines. Standing with Yannetti are his wife, Karen; their oldest daughter, Diana, and her children, Giana and Anthony; their youngest daughter, Julia, and her daughter, Olivia; and family friend Sandy Jeter.